It was just a short 2D1N trip and so much happened…
According to itinerary we:
- Climbed Bukit Cina to look at graves and get feasted on by h.u.g.e mosquitoes
- Went looked at a temple that is part of the commemoration of Cheng Ho but actually facilitates the worship of 大伯公
- Saw a well that was supposedly dug by Cheng Ho’s troops when they were in Malacca
- Visited the night bazaars
- Visited Cheng Ho museum
- Shopped before boarding the bus home
Not on itinerary:
- Watched Kung-fu panda on the travel bus. Apparently most of our other classmates were watching it too. We were all pretty amused by the Master “Shee-Foo” (Shifu) and Master “Oohg-gway” (Oogway/Wugui). Orientalism abounds in the movie. And a panda with an African-American accent?
- Laoshi’s bag containing his camera and various documents were stolen. In a C(h)endol shop. I was quite disillusioned by the rampancy of crime in a beautiful place like this. It was an organized crime because we realized afterwards that there were two people talking to different people in our group before laoshi’s bag went missing – they were distracting us. Laoshi must have been quite upset by this (and there was a long process of record taking at the police station, etc) but he didn’t really show it obviously.
- We travelled to a few places to get our various tickets settled (return bus tickets, Xinjiang song & dance troupe performance tickets). It was pretty amazing because we were without maps and guides and simply asked our ways around a completely strange place. Definitely memorable.
- Watched Xinjiang song & dance troupe performance at Pay Fong Secondary School. The performers were really good, especially the singers – I couldn’t detect flaws that I could pick on. The music was set too loud though, but that was a boo-boo to the site organizer. The troupe was good. We however had to leave halfway, because everyone was so tired and the programme was scheduled to end at 11pm!
- Our very nice classmates got a bag for laoshi as a way to comfort him. I think it’s not the bag (laoshi should be rich enough to have any kinds of bags he wanted) but our appreciation of the detailed planning that he had made to take us around the place. We didn’t have to worry about anything because everything was settled. For me personally I feel it’s also a way for us to let laoshi know that we don’t think any less of him because the incident happened – it was just as unfortunate for us as it was for him.
Maybe more when I feel like writing.
